Second-generation adolescents: identities in the balance

Abstract

Second-generation migrants grow up caught between their family’s cultural heritage and the values of their host society, experiencing a state of transculturality that can give rise to identity-related tensions, particularly during adolescence, a crucial phase in the development of self-identity. Although they participate fully in Italian social and school life, their formal recognition remains uncertain: Law No. 91/1992 requires legal and continuous residence until the age of 18 and a declaration within one year, creating a divide between lived identity and recognised identity. This precariousness is also reflected in public discourse, which defines them using metaphors such as ‘bridge children’ or ‘young people of the middle ground’. This paper analyses the dynamics of identity crises that may emerge in multicultural contexts, highlighting risks and resources. Through an intercultural pedagogical perspective, it emphasises the role of schools in promoting inclusion, the celebration of plural identities, and pathways towards active citizenship and intercultural dialogue.